Policy Submission Archive

Related Documents

During 2011, AMA Victoria made a submission to the whole of government Victorian alcohol and drug strategy.
In the submission we called for consideration to be given to a trial of Supervised Injecting Facilities in Victoria. Our recommendations, which included that the Government conduct a review of the evidence relating to the trial in NSW, were developed after extensive consultation with our members and Board.

The Australian Medical Association (Victoria) welcomed the opportunity to provide input to the Law Reform Committee’s inquiry into access by donor-conceived people to information about donors.
Access by donor-conceived people to information about donors

In September 2014, AMA Victoria submitted these recommendations to AHPRA's consultation on Guidelines for the regulatory management of registered health practitioners and students infected with blood-borne viruses.

There is a clear and present need for improvements to be made within the Victorian health system and these cannot be achieved without extra resources. Measures to improve all Victorians’ access to care must be funded in this year’s state budget. AMA Victoria calls on the Victorian Government to act now to address the deficiencies of Victoria’s health system and protect the future health of all Victorians.

For the 2016-17 state budget, AMA Victoria identifies six key areas for consideration by the Treasurer. It is our contention that these matters will significantly improve the Victorian health system and patient outcomes.

AMA Victoria welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Health 2040 discussion paper.
Our submission revolves around the discussion paper’s six themes and details the health system that Victoria should, and needs, to have.
The Victorian health system must be equitable, accessible, clinically appropriate, patient desired and high quality.

AMA Victoria welcomes the focus on health by the Baillieu Government. The new Victorian Government made several commitments to improve Victoria’s health throughout the course of the election campaign in 2010, and the State Budget 2011-12 is the time to start delivering on these commitments.

The most urgent problem facing Victoria’s public health system is the lack of capacity in public hospitals. Patient care and safety will be at risk if action is not taken to address recent and planned reductions in public hospital funding. We call on the Baillieu Government to ensure that all Victorians have access to high quality and affordable public health care.

The Victorian Government must show a strong commitment to implementing their election promises, as well appropriately funding strong growth in funding to the health system as a whole in order to meet population growth and rising demand for health services.
Hospitals need to see immediate action on all election promises with money allocated in the 2015-16 Budget papers and forward estimates.
It is no longer acceptable to pass the funding responsibility to someone else. Victoria needs to invest in every aspect of its health system to ensure the best possible health outcomes for all Victorians.

Victoria's health system is under threat Victoria’s health system has suffered from long term under-investment by the State, combined with recent cuts by the Commonwealth. The future of Victoria’s health system will rely on sufficient investment by the State and a commitment to mitigate any Commonwealth cuts. Funding in the health system must continue to increase in line with population growth and demand for services.
AMA Victoria wants the Victorian health system to work smarter. We should focus on taking advantage of technology and maximising efficiency in our health system. We need to link up various healthcare services, provide more choices for patients, and work smarter for our health dollar. Key to this is innovation and transparency. We need to know what is happening in our hospitals and health systems so we can direct resources, plan for future growth, and provide the best, most timely patient care possible.
It’s about care to the right person, in the right place, at the right time.

AMA Victoria welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the Exposure Draft of the Mental Health Bill 2010. Victoria’s mental health laws are outdated by national and international standards and need to change to reflect changing views and changing methods of the treatment of mental illness in society. However, it appears that the draft legislation does not recognise the workforce shortages and other pressures facing the public mental health system in Victoria today.

AMA Victoria rejects any expansion of the role of pharmacists into the independent provision of healthcare or prescribing.
AMA Victoria is concerned with protecting our patients’ safety and the quality of their health care that could be put at risk by the expansion of roles of non-medical practitioners into areas outside their areas of expertise and training.
Patient care is best supported by pharmacists working in conjunction with medical practitioners and patients to deal with the issues Pharmacists are best trained for; such as ensuring medication compliance, assisting with medication management and providing added education about medication safety. Patient care should be integrated and patients should be seen by the appropriate health professional, at the right time, for the optimum treatment and healthcare advice.
Download AMA Victoria's entire submission below.
Inquiry into community pharmacy in Victoria: AMA Victoria Submission

AMA Victoria has made a submission to the State Parliamentary Inquiry into Methamphetamine Use in Victoria. Following consultation with our members, AMA Victoria has recommended that new policies must be implemented to limit these trends and their impact across society. Our recommendations included: a public education program detailing the harmful effects; adequately staffed ED and other health care facilities; and sustained investment in the training of GPs on how best to engage drug users.

In December, AMA Victoria made its final submission for 2011 to the Family and Community Development Committee of the Victorian Parliament regarding its Inquiry into Workforce Participation by People with a Mental Illness. The submission made clear the need for more effective programs and initiatives which encourage people with a mental illness to secure and retain employment especially in light of the considerable barriers that these people can experience in finding work. The submission can be read in full, and is downloadable below.

AMA Victoria made a submission to the Department of Health's consultation paper on clinical mental health service catchments. The paper proposes three discussion options which suggest aligning adult area mental health boundaries with aged care, child and adolescent, Medical Local, Local Government Area and Department of Human Services boundaries.
Our submission stated that we would support building upon the already extensive local knowledge, skills and current partnerships to continue the optimisation and efficiencies that have developed over the past two decades. We recommended that these approaches should be encouraged and fostered to develop further. Furthermore, we also challenged various proponents of the Department's paper which did not seem to show evidence, particularly in the comparing age groups. AMA Victoria highlighted that optimal clinical management of conditions in each age group is vastly different and requires different skill sets, differential service provision and staff training requirements.

AMA Victoria supports measures to improve the rate of organ donation in Victoria provided that such measures do not come at the expense of patients’ and doctors’ rights. Our submission outlines that raising awareness of the importance of organ donation among doctors and the general public, along with enhanced training opportunities for doctors, would help to increase the rate of donation.

AMA Victoria has now made its submission to the state Parliamentary Inquiry into Infrastructure and Business Development in Outer Suburban Melbourne. Among our recommendations were more funding of hospital-in-the-home and aged care alternatives as well as easing planning restrictions for general practice to enhance access to primary care. In light of Victoria's increasing population growth rate, these proposals urgently require government action.
AMA response to Inquiry on Growing the Suburbs: Infrastructure and Business Development in Outer Suburban Melbourne

In Victoria, many small rural health services, community health services, residential care facilities and satellite health services are dependent on general practitioners to provide services to patients who present at their service for urgent care. In these health services a medical officer is rarely on site when a patient arrives, and it may take some time for a medical officer to attend the health service in an emergency situation. In some rural communities, there are no general practitioners. The Department of Health sought advice from relevant stakeholders as to whether, in certain circumstances, a registered nurse or midwife trained in advanced life support should be to administer lifesaving medications without a medical officer order whilst awaiting attendance of a medical officer or Ambulance Victoria
AMA Victoria submitted this consultation paper to the Department of Health after collecting feedback from members.

The Australian Medical Association (Victoria) has reviewed the Discussion Paper on the Victorian Health and Medical Research Strategy. While much of the scope of the Discussion Paper is specific to biomedical research, AMA Victoria can contribute to several of the Paper’s questions.

AMA Victoria has made its submission in response to the position paper released by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services called Simplifying Medical Treatment Decision Making and Advance Care Planning. The position paper was released as part of the consultation for a proposed Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act in Victoria

AMA Victoria welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the Parliament of Victoria’s Environment and Planning Committee’s Inquiry into Unconventional Gas in Victoria.
Human health is ultimately dependent on the health of the planet and its eco-system. The Australian Medical Association is concerned with ensuring that any processes or developments that impact on the health of the environment or the community are properly conducted, monitored and managed.

AMA Victoria lodged a paper with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) with feedback on their management of the transition from state to national medical registration. Download the full submission below.

AMA Victoria welcomed the opportunity to provide input into developing a draft Consultation Document for the review of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2006.
AMA Victoria believes that there are several opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the current scheme and improve the process involved for doctors, patients and the administrators of the scheme. System improvements would also support doctors to work in the best interests of their patients and to prescribe medicines safely and appropriately.

AMA Victoria welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry.
AMA Victoria does not have a direct role in the provision of activities or initiatives in the Latrobe Valley but we are pleased to provide comment on proposals to create a Health Conservation Zone and Health Advocate for the region.

AMA Victoria welcomed the opportunity to provide input into the Victorian Parliament Economy and Infrastructure Committee’s Inquiry in the Legislative and Regulatory Framework Relating to Restricted Breed Dogs. AMA Victoria does not have a direct role in the management, treatment or recording of dog attack injuries but is grateful for the opportunity to provide the following information in response to the specific questions the Committee has raised.

In December 2012 AMA Victoria lodged a submission with Treasury for the continued support of the current Fringe Benefits Tax Concessions system for doctors working in the public hospital system. A change to the current arrangements will lead to unintended consequences which could exacerbate the profoundly increasing shortfall of medical services available in the context of aging, more complex chronic illness and obesity.

AMA Victoria welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the Travis Review - Strategies to improve the capacity of Victoria’s hospital system. This is an important review and has the capacity to significantly reform Victoria’s health system, improve access and outcomes for the public, and improve the system for doctors.

AMA Victoria welcomes the opportunity to provide input into VAGO’s Audit on bullying and harassment in the health sector.
AMA Victoria condemns all forms of harassment, discrimination and bullying. There must be a zero tolerance approach to such behaviour.

AMA Victoria welcomes the opportunity to provide input into Victoria’s Citizens’ Jury on Obesity. Our submission responds to the overarching question: “what do you believe needs to be done about this issue?”

AMA Victoria welcomes the opportunity to provide comment on the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s review of the law in relation to medicinal cannabis.
AMA Victoria was honoured to be invited to attend the first meeting of the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s Medicinal Cannabis Advisory Committee.
In the following submission AMA Victoria responds to questions posed in the Agenda of the Advisory Committee meeting held on Wednesday 1 April 2015, with reference to the Medicinal Cannabis Issues Paper.

The Australian Medical Association (Victoria) provided further information to the Committee in response to its request for details of any current or projected staff and skills training shortages within hospitals as a result of the growth of organ transplant rates.

In May 2010, AMA Victoria made a significant submission to the consultation process which included considerable evidence on the health issues facing Victorian men. In response to the Department of Health's invitation for further comment, AMA Victoria responded.

In May 2010, AMA Victoria made a significant submission to the consultation process which included considerable evidence on the health issues facing Victorian men. In response to the Department of Health's invitation for further comment, AMA Victoria responded.

The Australian Medical Association (Victoria) welcomed the opportunity to provide input to the Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee’s Inquiry into Violence and Security Arrangements in Victorian Hospitals.